Yesterday was Josef's Middle School's "open house". It started at sharp 1:30 but when we got there we saw some of our neighbors with their kids leaving the parking lot already. We're not late and though we got there on time, parking space was just so impossible to our vistas hahaha. Daddy dearest followed the direction of traffic and when I spotted the grassy part beside the school's front lawn with just one vehicle parked on it, I told him to get that spot. The venue of the said event was packed to the ceiling. Imagine all the 6th graders from three different grade schools and you can picture how crowded it was. Eight hundred "Jr High" kids to be exact! Yup, Josef is a "Jr High" student now. After the event my husband took the kids to CEC. He thought that a new school year finally gets here and kids need one more last blast of fun hahaha. What a sweet dad indeed! We had Josef's list with us from his homeroom teacher, therefore, we went ahead and got them while we're out of town. We found almost every item he's required to have except for one. Josef is very picky when it comes to his stuff and we can't seem to find his "type" of binder. And then my husband said......"why don't we go to STAPLES and check the store out". We did! And there Josef satisfied his taste.

Today, all the schools in our county started their 1st day of class. Kids are both excited. Moms and dads too hahaha. My dear Dale set the alarm clock for 6:30, of course I am already up before then. He helped me attending to the kids. Jann told us last night before heading to her bed that she don't want to be dropped to school but ride the school bus instead. We always took them to school on the very 1st day as a routine but since Josef will be attending Middle school now, she thinks that she's a big girl as well. So, Jann was picked by the school bus while daddy dearest drove Josef to Jr High. They both rode the bus coming home. No homework yet BUT tons of updates hahaha. Boy, I was confused whom to listen first! Jann got tons of stories to tell and so are her bro. In the end, both news were heard hahaha. Josef just need some money for his PE locker, classroom locker, and for his Science club. It runs some money nowadays to have kids in public school. During my husband's school days everything is free and provided to you. Not anymore. Thanks for reading and have one terrific Thursday to all !!! I haven't upload our CEC fotos yet. I'll just link it up to Jann's school knapsack when I get done with it.

We're here in Florida celebrating my dear dearest 49th bday! I have lots and lots of fotos to share and great news as well. I'll meet you all back here after the celebration, so don't go away.

Well, I'm back as I promised! Dale's 49th bday went totally awesome. I would say that any celebration, if you spent it at the beach, was extraordinary. He got a couple of b-day cards from me and from the kids plus another one from his company and though he never pulled out any "cologne" from the gift bags, me and the kids made sure that he'll get his pair of New Balance shoes with a matching socks. Dale's always been sooo good to us. We supposed to be giving him a "treat" but he gave us one instead by taking us to "Gulf Shores" to see the ocean. We visited so many places including Loxley, Robertsdale and Foley, AL. He took us back to "Tanger's Outlet" to shop for what's on sale hahaha. We spent a lot on gas going and coming back, so I am not ready to pay for any full price item at the outlet stores. I got Josef some shirts from "Gap Kids" and a pair of glitttery flip-flops for Jann and took her to "Limited Too" but can't find any good deals for her. Then, we went to "Nike" next and came out empty handed. My fav store has a cheaper prices compare to theirs. I didn't even bothered to check "Coach". I've seen so many women toting the same Coach handbags and purses and to have the same bag like theirs is just too much for me hahaha. I want mine to be a 'lil different. We learned from our Hotel's manager that there's this one popular fresh seafood market called "Joe Patti's" located just right next to the shore and so we went there also. My dear Dale got me two big red snappers, 6lbs of shrimps, a dozen of semi-cooked crabs, and 6lbs of baby squids. And then, Josef saw an ad about this restaurant simply called "Crabs" from one of the hotel's brochure and as expected, he wants to try what's on their menu". It's on the tourist spot, so the price is undoubtfully high. The kids are the center of Dale's life and so Josef's request was granted. Headed next to "Alvin's Island" to check the store out and got souvenirs for the kids. Summer cap for Josef and a shirt for our baby Jann. Well, I guess I wrote enough about our Florida adventure. Our fotos are in and you are free to view all the 150 shots taken from my cam. Just hit the "proud pleasers" (fotos below) and it'll take you directly to the album. Thanks for reading and have a whimsical weekend to all !!!

My dear husband's company throwdown at "Butts Mill" went great. The only downside of the said event is that it makes us all overwhelmingly exhausted. People are everywhere and the facility's parking lot is full. Dale would never thought the party is gonna be a big "turnout" but the attendees proved otherwise. "Butts Mill Farm" is quite a huge piece of farmland but it's so spread out and that's why visitors aren't clamped up  in just one spot. As for the food.......oh boy! not only that there's sooo much vittles and victuals to choose from, but they're also delectable. Sodas are everywhere too. You can swim and have a bath for cases and cases of beverages and waters are in sight. WMDC is always generous to its employees not counted all the great benefits and incentives that this company gives away every month. The private party is for two days and it's free for every employees and their families. That's about the "best part" b/c it costs almost $85 for a family of four to get in. The heat is bothersome and it will drain your energy very quick but it's a party, so you can't gripe about 90 degrees temp hahaha. There's definitely no room for griping but a lot of space for fun. How's that for a "trade-in"? The kids really had a great time eventhough our Jann missed out being in the water. We have one more trip to make before school starts, so there's really no point of dwelling on it.

Speaking of school, we're thru shopping for school supplies and school clothings for Jann. Josef's list, on the other hand, is still on hold since he's gonna be in 6th grade this year. I have to attend his Orientation on the 4th and hopefully learn all the stuff he's suppose to have in his backpack when he show up for the 1st day of class. Our baby boy has changed a lot. All kiddie stuff to him is nothing but now a history hahaha. He wants a new knapsack, so we took him out of town to the mall to look for one. Been to three different department stores and still we can't find what he's looking for. He kept on insisting about "mesh with strap". Holly Molly! I started scratching part of my body that's not even itchy hahaha. Finally, "Hibbett" rang a bell! And there we found his $45 mesh w/ strap. At the store, Jann was busy testing the "weights" on display and she forgot about her "celfone". After making six more stops, she never realized her celfone was missing neither her dad, her bro, not even me. As soon as we pulled to the driveway and came to the back door, there's that "Hibbett" guy on our answering machine tellin' us......."Your daughter left her celfone on top of the folded shirts in our store". When I heard that, scratching an unitchy part of me never crossed my thoughts but bang my head against the wall instead hahaha. At present, her celfone would never get lost again b/c her dad bought her a celfone strap that way she can hang it around her neck. It sounds like I wrote another novelette here once again. I hope you enjoy viewing our fotos. Thanks for reading and have one frolic Friday everyone !!!

My dear Dale and I got married when I was 30yrs old. At that time, my three sisters were through with college and my parents were living in a "decent" home in the same area where we're reared and grew up. Oh yeah, that's right! I was 30yrs old when I decided to get married. I don't see anything wrong about it. I am very jubilant for that decision b/c now I know and have realized that my family weren't left behind nor looks pitiful. Moreover, I'm not ashame of them and never tries (in my entire life) to keep them from the public's eyes. But hey, there was this "twisted" girl who thinks that getting married at the age of 30 is absurd and surreal. What she don't realized is that 98% of Americans won't even raise their eyebrows when they heard you talking about 18 or 30 when you got married BUT they will surely TURN their heads if they see you walking with an old spouse beside you. Gosh! aren't you glad I didn't marry someone older than my father? At least I showed some respects and mended in my head what my mom always said.........RESPECT THE ELDERS!!! Don't marry none of them.

Anyhow, it's been 12yrs since that very memorable day. Dale's 15 days away from his 37th bday while yours truly just turned 30. We celebrate our 12th Anniversary in Birmingham and Hoover. My dear dearest has to attend his high school's "last blast" ceremony and also to meet all his friends and classmates and thought what a nice opportunity to do it all at once. He took me shopping at the "Galleria" and got me a pair of nice leather clogs from DSW. It was a "family affair" so to speak and so Jann went shopping also hahaha. Her dad took her to Club LibbyLu and got her a new pair of shoes. She had picked a gorgeous looking shirt but sizes didn't come far enough to her size. Mother like daughter huh! We both have a "softspot" (weakness, as what majority calls it) when it comes to footwear hahaha. Then, she requested "Claires" and so my darling Clementine took her there too. She got a pair of HM earrings. We stopped by at my fav "Starbucks" for some latte afterwards and then headed to Inverness for lunch at their "Joe's Crab Shack". We've been wanting to eat and experience what it would be like the aura inside Joe's and thank goodness, we finally did! Man, we had a blast! It was like party all over again with crabs in the bucket. Joe's Crab Shack place weren't too many and the nearest to us was like 2hrs drive in "Alpharetta, GA". My dear dearest likes to try "Smith & Wollensky" for our 12th Anniversary, but we don't have any down here where we're at. At Joe's, Josef refused my offer for a souvenir shirt. His taste is changing and I'm not forcing him to have something he doesn't like. By the way, to those who wants to view all the fotos we've had from our trip they're here. Thanks a lot for reading and may you all have one terrific Tuesday !!!

We consumed our entire Thursday shopping around for "fireworks" and I mean, we've been to three different warehouses to look for what my brood really wants. Josef was looking for "Roman Candles" type and so daddy dearest had to help him. Jann, being a copycat, wants exactly the same thing hahaha. We had movie to watch but since both the kids mind were sooo focused on lighting up the fireworks, we pushed that aside. It didn't gets dark till about 9 o'clock, so can you imagine what time we finally sit down to enjoy "Vantage Point"? It was about close to midnight.

July 4th is one of those significant dates that my husband and I both cherish in the month of July. It is as important as my bday, our anniversary, and his bday. We planned to have a family picnic but can't decide whether we want pork or chicken hahaha. So, after church I decided to drop by grocery store and picked some babyback ribs. Dale put them on the grill while the kids and I were getting ready. He never fixed any side dish to go with it b/c he wanted to get them from KFC. We went to "Veassey Park" and had our day there. Came home afterwards and then after quite some time, headed to watch the fireworks show. This year's show is spectacular. That's about our 4th. Thanks for reading and have one jubilant Independence Day to all!!!

......or was it? Oh well, let me just ask Dale b/c he's older than me and besides, he'll be 49 very, very soon hahaha. Hey, at least I am being honest about his age and save you time from guessing. I have decided to make this post quite different from the ritual paragraphs with punctuations and marks and since I am blessed with "two scores" plus two more........I think I have the very motivation to put into writings my "42 reasons" why I must be grateful. So, are you all ready? Here it goes.....

1. I am the 1st child, "firstborn" is what I called it.
2. Was born July 1st, forty two years ago.
3. Reared by two great parents, a mom who's a HS grad & a dad who never finished grade school. Am I embarrass of the fact? NAY!
4. Grew up with three sisters in a home that's not grand BUT it's "ours".
5. Never experienced to have a brother BUT "God" bestowed me a son. How great is that?
6. Witnessed our dining table with scarce food on it, but we were always healthy and well fed.
7. While other kids our age go without on Christmas day, me & my sisters always had new clothes to wear to church on that day.
8. It was a jubilation for a kid like me, at the time, to realize we had "electricity". Some neighbors to this day, are still on an "oil lamp".
9. Had our first black & white television set when I was in 6th grade. Whew! that was really a BIG deal hahaha.
10. Renting never crossed my parents mind, so we all grew up in the home that belongs to us.
11. First to experience being in front of a crowd when I was in 1st grade to lead the National Anthem. I thought that was cool!
12. My 1st grade teacher was my father's 1st grade teacher hahaha.
13. I was an honor student during my grade school years. I don't brag about it. I think the word "smart" isn't for me to claim, IT'S for the people to say.
14. I was gifted with courage and never been a "timid" type. I am a sales girl right from the very beginning.
15. I sold a lot of candies to classmates & schoolmates during my years in grade school.
16. I am a business-minded gal and had the first taste of it when I traded in some bubblegums for 20 sheets of writing paper in 2nd grade hahaha. I should be working for NYSE today.
17. I am somebody to beat in Math in HS. My report card is something every parent wish to see.
18. I was a class rep during my 1st & 2nd year in HS for end-of-the year activities.
19. I'm in a band as a drummer from 3rd to 4th year.
20. I went to Vocational School for a year and graduated with Typewriting & Stenography cert.
21. Finished college with a Bachelor degree in Elem Ed.
22. Has experience about dealing with fifth graders.
23. Been to Singapore and lived there for six years.
24. Spent a week of nothing but fun at Malaysia's "Genting Highlands".
25. I've seen Brunei Darussalam.
26. I've experienced life in Hong Kong. Good food, great views, and everything in between hahaha.
27. I learned some of the languages (Tamil, Mandarin, Malay, & Cantonese), learned how to cook their cuisines as well as adapting to their customs & traditions.
28. Let me add Seoul, South Korea to the list.
29. Being exposed to countries sooo progressive changed my life and my perspectives.
30. How I look now and how I carry myself didn't just happened overnight. Moreover, living in America has nothing to do with it. I am who I am years before I met my dear Dale.
31. OK, it's getting more interesting now that I am closing in to the period of "no return". It took 4yrs for my husband and I to get married. That's a lot of years of thinking hahaha.
32. That "once-in-a-lifetime" decision could either brings "misery" or "happiness". Fortunately, I am very happy and much contented.
33. Finally tied the knot and exchanged our vows July 15, almost 12yrs ago.
34. I don't believed in "COHABITATION", so we never practiced the so- called......."TRY IT B4 U BUY IT" promo hahaha. He bought it first and then tried afterwards, which is the best way to go.
35. I never spent a dime on our wedding. Dale foot the bill on everything.
36. Dale's never been married before, so I am his first wife. "Original wife" is what his side of the family called it. Oh my! that's an honor.
37. The following year our precious son, Josef, was born. Jann came almost 4yrs later.
38. These two kids really brought so much joy to our lives. Children, as we know it, makes every married woman's life complete. I would feel empty inside without my kids.
39. Having a bright child is always been my dream. God responded by giving me two brilliant ones. One boy and the other, girl!
40. Both of them are honor students, so I am entitled to claim........"Proud Mom Of An Honor Students".
41. Though I'm already have a degree on me, adding one more won't harm me at all. So, Dale sent me to school to be a nurse.
42. At present, I am a Nursing student. Back then, I believed that "Those Who Care Teach" but now I am here to say that "Those Who Teach Care". I used to teach but very soon I'll be caring a pt.

That's all for today. Thanks a lot for reading but much more for holding. I know some readers out there has a "jealous heart" and gets so "envious" in a heart beat. I can't help I got 42 reasons to be grateful. If you can't stand them, that's your problem and not mine. As the saying goes.......if you can't handle your neighbor talking about "burglar" and "robber", YOU SHOULDN'T MARRY A THIEF". That's all there is to it !!!

Gosh! I have had yet another long week on my end. This time though is very different for we didn't do much running around. I spent most of my week to school related stuff. I am gearing up toward something more whimsical and has to build up and broaden my intuition about it. NO! I am not going into details for majority of my readers can't relate to it. Discussing something here that only me could comprehend would be like "Leonardo Da Vinci" explaining to pre-schoolers how did he came up of painting the "Mona Lisa". I did answer the invitation (for nursing student only) of registering early last Tuesday and enrolled for early registration. Paid in full for my Fall sem and gathered all the textbooks that's needed. That's one duty that I don't have to do later. Duties are all around me hahaha. First day of class for my Fall sem will be on the 18th of August. Schools in "state" of Alabama are in "a week difference" from its school year depending on the county you're in. It don't matter if it is a University, College, Middle School or grade schools. One week is all the difference! So in the end, some schools will get off a week early than others but not months.

My dear Dale finally put up my new STSSER over the week. I was opposing him about the plan b/c he doesn't have any "major" electrical background on his sheet hahaha. He was told that I am ready to pork in $300 for the electrician to do the job. He has "some" knowledge about short circuit and such but not a major one and I was kind of nervous for him to do all the wirings and connections. He made a trip to his fav hardware store and talked to the owner. A model of the whole stuff was shown to him and coaching was added hahaha. When he came home, he's ready to go into action. We were on a natural gas by the way, and that's why he had to run some wirings and make a new connection. My new electric range is now up and running. Thanks to my dear dearest and his talent, I've saved a lot and kept my $300 from going to electrician's pocket . Thanks a lot for reading and have one spectacular Saturday to all !!!

If I have to guess, this post would probably put you all to sleep hahaha. My family and I had a very long week and believe me, I could write a book about it. I'll try my very best to "cut the chase" and "beat around the bush" and shorten it instead. OK, here we go.....

Monday, I took Josef to his "Orthodontists". I was a bit nervous b/c I know "braces" could run from hundreds to thousdands of dollars if he ever need it. Thank Heaven! the check up turned out well and all his teeth seemed to be in the right place where they're supposed to be. He's not going back 'til next year for another check up. Whew! that's a relief. I just porked in 2grands for his trip to Washington DC & NYC in Spring. When we signed him up we were told that his travel fee will only cost us $1,500 but after the "travel insurance", "refund insurance", and "registration fee", I end up porking in 2grands. So, seeing his Orthodontists and hearing him say $3,000 for braces is the last thing I wanna hear. Wouldn't you feel the same way?

Tuesday, my dear dearest took us to "Rocky Point" to swim. We had food and munchies with us to enjoy. The weather was real nice and cooperative until after an hour or two when suddenly sky turned gloomy and started thundering. We hauled out of the water and never wait for the lightning. Flashing sky and water just ain't a good combination. Besides, two hrs of fun for us in the water was great enough. Came home to a "message" left from our answering machine. It was my school's Nurse Director. She's asking me to return her call. It must be important so Dale called back. Nobody pick up the fone but since my husband let her know we were home, she gave me a ring once more. I was offered a choice to be in the program that will graduate sooner or stay where I'm at. I chose the latter. There's no point of rushing to the stage to graduate. I don't care if everybody gets their diploma before me, "the rule of thumb" is........you can't practice your profession nor work at any hospitals UNLESS you pass the board exam and get your license. What's the point of getting to the stage early and get stuck for long at home b/c you can't pass the NCLEX. I love to think "logically". Dale's wondering why me over multitudes of candidates. I only have a couple of answers for that. One, is that I am a priority b/c of my GPA and another is b/c I am getting near to graduate.

Wednesday, we went fishing to Bell's Fish Farm. My husband told his uncle that we were there as a customer. I guess, we don't like "free fish" that day hahaha. Dale was the very first to get a bite but the fish was darn huge when he's pulling it to the bank, it came off the hook. What a luck! Josef never did get a bite for hours until he decided to fish in the bottom and took the bubbler out of his rod. All our catch was credited to my son for he caught almost all of them except for two. Dale caught one and Jann caught another. All I thought "lady luck" was on Jann's side the whole time we were waiting for the bite b/c she caught one after another. The sad part was fish is slipping off the hook whenever she tried to pull it from the water. At one time, Josef helped her out but she got cranky and considered the fish "uncounted" hahaha. So, Dale made it a point that he doesn't care if it is "Moby Dick" hahaha, the next time she gets a bite, we'll let her pull it herself. Jann's indeed her dad's lil' princess, can't you tell? In the end, we brought home 36lbs. It's a dollar and a half per pound, so you do the math.

Thursday, we're out of town shopping for a swimming pool. We did some grocery shopping too. We never filled my SUV with groceries but we got a lot. Pulled to the driveway and unload. Jann wouldn't wait another second for the pool to remain in the box, so daddy dearest hastily gathered all his tools to put the pool up. Water wasn't even deep enough to swim but our baby girl was in it with her swimsuit on and enjoying the slowly soaring water hahaha.

Friday, we went to "Warm Springs" in Georgia to visit FDR's "The Little White House". We bought a bucket of KFC and some munchies to go with it and had a family picnic. We roamed around Franklin Roosevelt's Park also and spent our day touring the entire facility. Took tons of shots and visited two of their popular "gift shacks". Hello! are you still with me or what? I told you this post will put you all to sleep. I'm not going to make it any longer than it is, so I thank you all for reading and have one sweet Sunday everyone !!!

The "man of the house" worked yesterday and so we never get the chance to take him somewhere to celebrate. His "Father's Day" gifts were given to him as soon as he walked through the back door. Our baby girl, Jann, was on the look out and can't wait for him to pull in our driveway. When she spotted his truck coming she hollered......."he's here!, he's here!" to her bro. Both of them hastily pulled the father's day cards out from its hiding place and with those cards in hands, they hid behind the bar and surprised their dad with a thundering "Happy Father's Day To The World's # 1 Dad". Dale's eyes were teary, I could tell. He was touched deeply by how his kids appreciate him as their daddy. It was a memorable moment! Jann doesn't always feel "openhanded" when it comes to her dad, so I asked her if I could kiss dad first hahaha just to avoid misunderstanding. Who would want to ruin the big day, anyway? When she said yes, all of us laughs hahaha. See, I told you my family tree is full of nuts.

We went to church as our routine on a Sunday morning. Got out of bed earlier than usual b/c Josef was a "greeter". We need to be there before everybody does in order for him to hand Sunday bulletin to every parishioner who step to the door. Shopped for some groceries after church. Well, you know the drill. When you think you got everything when you are grocery shopping, more often than not, you'll forget something. Went straight to "Video Warehouse" for Josef's game after the store and then headed to the house. That's about our Sunday. I hope you all have a wonderful week and thanks a bunch for reading !!!

Between packing up and to unpacked I would surely prefer the first. I have noticed that getting ready all you need to tow are less time consuming than putting back stuff from where they belong. I've finally taken care of all that since yesterday, THANK HEAVEN! I am a 'lil stiff right now from all the moves that we have had at the mountain hahaha. Our trip went great and sweet and to tell you the truth, it turned out to be one of our most "romantic getaway" so far. We brought with us a lot of snacks to munch on. Roughly sixty bucks worth of munchies to enjoy but consumed only a quarter of it. We're constantly on the move and just don't have enough time for chewing hahaha. The place was spectacular and the views were just awesomely panoramic. We have the chance to spent time inside the park's 4D theater and boy, it was an experience! You can see and feel what's going on the story as if it is happening on a real time. We rode on a cable car which they called "Sky Lift" to the top of the mountain. This is not my first time to be on one but the big difference was that in Singapore cable cars were to cross the water that connects your port of entry to your destination while this one crossed the stone mountain itself. Lasershow was unbelievably prettyful. It's so moving b/c it touches all about America and its history. While watching and listening to the background, it made me feel sooo proud being an American. Topics as such are hardly teach in school now and kids in today's generation learned just a bit of this country's history. Fortunately, such information could be seen and heard from some of our National Parks like the "Stone Mountain".

Breakfast at the "Marriott" was quite costly. It's $13/person for some grits, fried eggs, some bacon, and toasted bread. I guess I am sooo used to pay six bucks for my breakfast at "Ihop" and "Waffle House" hahaha. The park must be very popular and known b/c at the hotel's parking lot I've saw vehicles with tags as far as "Michigan", "Nevada", and "New Jersey". My dear dearest said he don't mind going back but I replied........."let's try another spot" hahaha. You may wonder if we visited the parks "gift shops/souvenir shacks" and my response is...... YES, WE DID! In addition, my dear Dale took me to my fav "Oriental Store" to get stuff for my pantry. I tell you, $300 nowadays won't even filled your buggy hahaha. My fav box of noodles was $9.99 but now its a dollar more. Place three boxes to your cart and there you go your $33. Red snapper is $5/lb and my fav "live blue crabs" is $4/lb. Everything is going up except for a "pygmy" like me hahaha. To those who wants to view the fotos we took, just hit the sample shot below. Thanks a lot for reading and may you all have one superb Saturday !!!